Method and apparatus for preconstructing railroad track sections



Jan. 7, 1969 M. E. KERNS 3,420,136

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRECONSTRUCTING RAILROAD TRACK SECTIONS Sheet of 5 Filed Aug. 4, 1966 INVENTOR.

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRECONSTRUCTING RAILROAD TRACK SECTIONS Filed Aug. 4, 1966 Sheet 5 Of 5 I f A? .74

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WX .5. A12 7775 /9' axwa/s United States Patent 3,420,186 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRECON- STRUCTING RAILROAD TRACK SECTIONS Max E. Kerns, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to The New York Central Railroad Company, New York, N.Y., a

corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 570,333

US. Cl. 1943 27 Claims Int. Cl. E011) 29/02; E011) 29/26 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for preconstructing railroad track sections comprising means for conveying a plurality of longitudinally spaced ties and a pair of laterally spaced rails along a predetermined path, conveying means for supplying ties and rails from a storage position to a position substantially adjacent the first conveying means, spacing means operatively associated with the first mentioned conveying means for maintaining a predetermined longitudinally spaced relationship between the ties, laterally movable means adjacent the path for laterally aligning the ties, means rotatably engageable with the rails for uni formly laterally spacing the rails along the first mentioned conveying means, means for supplying rail fastening means to a predetermined position along the path, hammer means and support means for supporting the hammer means for longitudinal movement along the first mentioned conveying means, gripping means for releas ably securing the suport means to track sections traversing the first mentioned conveying means, and means for selectively actuating the hammer means to effect securing the ties and rails together with the fastening means.

This invention relates generally to railroad tracks and, more particularly, to a new and improved method and apparatus for preconstructing railroad track sections.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for expediting the assembly of railroad tracks.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of preconstructing railroad track sections which considerably reduces the number of workmen needed to assemble the track sections.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for assembling a pair of spaced railroad rails and a plurality of railroad ties to provide a railroad track section which may be easily handled and rapidly laid along a railroad right-of-way.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel method for sequentially assembling the various component parts of a railroad track section, thereafter orienting these components in a predetermined configuration, and subsequently permanently securing the components together.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the above character which includes means for selectively supplying railroad rails and ties, together with conveying means for transporting the rails and ties to predetermined work stations where the various components are secured together.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the above character which includes means for automatically gaging or spacing the railroad rails of each of the track sections during assembly thereof, whereby to assure uniform rail spacing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the above character which includes means for laterally aligning the railroad ties during assembly of the track sections.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the above character wherein the conveying means includes means for uniformly longitudinally spacing the railroad ties during assembly thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the above character which includes means for automatically supplying tie plates and spikes used for securing the rails and ties.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the above type which utilizes pneumatically powered hammer means for securing the rails to their associated ties.

It is a related object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the above character wherein said pneumatically powered hammer means is movable parallel to the conveyor means and which includes means releasably connecting the hammer means with the track sections whereby the hammer means will move simultaneously with the track sections as the latter are conveyed along the apparatus.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus of the above character that is of a durable construction, that may be made from readily available components, and that is adapted to preconstruct railroad track sections of uniform size and quality.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the above character which is adapted to assemble track sections of various lengths in order to accommodate virtually all railroad right-of-way installations.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved through the provision of a novel apparatus comprising an elongated conveyor adapted to have a plurality of railroad ties sequentially disposed on one end thereof, and thereafter have a pair of spaced parallel railroad rails deposited on top of the ties. The conveyor includes means adapted to uniformly longitudinally space the ties, and means is provided adjacent the conveyor for laterally aligning the ties. The apparatus also includes gaging means for assuring that the railroad rails are spaced a predetermined uniform distance apart. A plurality of pneumatically actuated spike driving hammers are provided adjacent each of the railroad rails of the track sections. The hammers are longitudinally slidable mounted on overhead support structures and means is provided for releasably connecting the hammers to the rails so that said hammers may move longitudinally with the rails as the track sections are moved along the conveyor. Accordingly, the spikes utilized in fastening the railroad rails and ties together can be driven into the ties while the same are being conveyed, thus obviating the necessity for momentarily stopping the conveyor as each of the spikes is being driven.

A more complete understanding of the present invention and various additional features thereof will be obtained from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top elevational view of an apparatus for preconstructing railroad track sections in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevated perspective view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1, as seen in the direction of the arrow 2 thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially broken away, of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1, as taken substantially along the line 33 thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1, as taken substantially along the line 44 thereof;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged elevated perspective view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 4, as seen in the direction of the arrow 5 thereof;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged top elevational view of a portion of one of the conveyor belts incorporated in the apparatus of the present invention; and

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 7.

For convenience of description, the terms forward, rearward, right, and left and words of similar import will have reference to apparatus of the present invention and parts thereof as appearing in FIGURE 1, the forward end of the apparatus being at the top of this figure. The terms upper and lower and derivatives thereof will have reference to the apparatus of the present invention and the various parts thereof as appearing in FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawings, an apparatus for preconstructing railroad track sections 10, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is shown as comprising an elongated longitudinally extending conveyor assembly 12 upon which a pair of endless link-type conveyor belts 14 and 16 are mounted. As best illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 6, the belts 14, 16 are mounted on a pair of longitudinally extending, spaced parallel guide rails 18 which are in turn supported upon a plurality of upwardly inclined support members 20 which are secured as by welding to the lower sides of the guide rails 18, as best seen at 22 in FIGURE 6. Each of the support members 20 comprises a pair of bifurcated, upwardly converging support sections 24 and 26 which are connected at their upper ends and have suitable reinforcing members 28 interposed between intermediate portions thereof. It will be seen that the support sections 24, 26 of each of the support members 20 are sufliciently spaced apart below the guide rails 18 to permit the return of the conveyor belts 14 and 16 to traverse freely therebetween.

The conveyor belts 14 and 16 comprise a series of belt links 30, each consisting of a pair of spaced link members 31 and 32 interconnected by suitable pivot pins or the like 34 in the conventional manner and as best illustrated in FIGURE 7. The belts 14, 16 are rotatably supported upon the guide rails 18 by means of a plurality of suitable rotatable sheaves or pulleys 35 which are disposed one at each end of each of the pair of guide rails 18. A drive shaft 36 extends between the sheaves 35 at the forward end of the conveyor 12 and is drivingly connected to an electric motor or other source of motive power 37 for driving the forwardmost of the sheaves 36, which results in the conveyor belts 14, 16 being driven in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 4.

At preselected longitudinally spaced positions along the conveyor belts 14, 16, a plurality of upwardly extending tie spacer members 38 are secured as by welding or the like to the belt links 30. The spacer members 38 are arranged in upwardly converging pairs such that the upper ends of the members 38 of each of the pairs are disposed adjacent one another, but are not connected, as the belts 14, 16 traverse the upper sides of the guide rails 18. It will be seen that the members 38 define a series of valleys between each adjacent pair of members 38, which valleys are adapted to receive railroad ties therewithin in the manner hereinafter to be described. A vertically extending lug member 39 is secured as by welding adjacent the juncture of each of the spacer members 38 and the conveyor belt links 30, which members 39 assure that the railroad ties are spaced equidistant between the adjacent pairs of members 38. The conveyor belts 14 and 16 are arranged such that the pairs of members 38 tliereon are laterally aligned, whereby the railroad ties disposed between the pairs of members 38 assume a spaced parallel relationship with respect to one another and will be uniformly longitudinally spaced from one another preparatory to the railroad rails being secured thereto.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 4, disposed at the forward end of the conveyor 12 is a railroad tie conveyor assembly 40 comprising a pair of conveyor belts 42 and 44 of any suitable construction and mounted on a plurality of drive sheaves 46. The conveyor belts 42 and 44 are adapted to be driven in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 4 by means of a suitable electric motor 48 and drive shaft 50, the latter of which is drivingly secured to two of the sheaves 46, whereby energization of the motor 48 effects the desired movement of the conveyor belts 42, 44. The assembly 40 is adapted to convey a plurality of laterally disposed railroad ties, generally designated 52, from a suitable supply thereof to the forward end of the conveyor 12. As the ties reach the rearward end of the assembly 40, they are transferred from the assembly 40 to a position resting on the conveyor belts 14, 16, interjacent the pairs of tie spacer members 38 thereof. This can be accomplished by any suitable means such as an overhead crane or the like, or alternatively and preferably by two workmen located one at each side of the forward end of the conveyor 12. It will be seen that as the ties 52 are placed on the conveyor 12, they are uniformly longitudinally spaced from one another by the members 38 and 39 on the conveyor belts 14 and 16 so that no further longitudinal alignment thereof is required.

As best seen in FIGURE 1 a plurality of railroad rails, generally designated 54 are disposed upon a pair of longitudinally spaced support members 56 and 58 which extend laterally outwardly from the left side of the apparatus 10 in FIGURE 1. The rails 54 may be placed upon the support members 56, 58 by any suitable means, for example, by a suitable crane or the like. It is contemplated that the apparatus 10 of the present invention be located adjacent a railroad rail manufacturing or reconditioning facility so that the rails 54 may move in the direction of the arrow 60 in FIGURE 1 from such a facility to a position adjacent the support members 56, 58.

The rails 54 are adapted to be transported from the position which they assume on the support members 56, 58 to the appropriate positions extending longitudinally of the apparatus 10, i.e., parallel to the conveyor belts 14, 16, by means of an overhead crane or similar conveying mechanism, representatively illustrated in FIG- URE l and designated by the numeral 62. The mechanism 62 may be laterally movable with respect to the apparatus 10 by means of suitable overhead support tracks 64 and 66 which extend laterally from a position above the conveyor belts 14, 16 to a position above the support members 56, 58. The mechanism 62 preferably includes suitable elevating cables and means for releasably gripping the rails 54 so that the same may be elevated upwardly from the members 56, 58, and thereafter be lowered toward and released on the top of the ties 52 previously placed on the conveyor 12.

Means for laterally aligning the ties 52 as they are conveyed longitudinally along the apparatus 10 by the conveyor belts 14 and 16 is achieved through the provision of a pair of relatively larger diameter annular roller members 68 and 70 disposed on the laterally opposite sides of the conveyor 12. The roller member 68 is mounted on a suitable vertically extending post or shaft 72 and is preferably fixed against lateral movement with respect to the conveyor 10; however, the roller member 70 is adapted to move laterally from the phantom line position to the solid line position (see FIGURE 1) thereby urgin any laterally misaligned ties 52 into engagement with the fixed roller member 68. Accordingly, as the ties 52 are conveyed along the conveyor 12, they are sequently and uniformily laterallly aligned as they pass between the roller members 68 and 70.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 3, the roller member 70 is laterally movable between the solid and phantom line positions by means of a laterally movable carriage member 74 which is provided with an upwardly extending post or shaft 76 upon which the member 70 is rotatably mounted. The carriage member 74 is mounted at least in part within a suitable enclosure 78 having a pneumatically actuated two-way piston and cylinder assembly 80 mounted thereon. The assembly 80 includes a reciprocally mounted piston rod 82 which is secured by any suitable coupling means 84 to the carriage member 74. It will be be seen that upon energization of the assembly 80, the piston rod 82, carriage member 74 and roller member 70 will be biased to the right in FIGURE 3, whereby the member 70 will engage the end of the adjacent of the ties 52 and bias the same into engagement with the roller member 68, with the result that said tie 52 will be uniformly laterally aligned with the rest of the ties which have previously passed between the members 68 and 70. In a preferred construction of the apparatus 10 of the present invention, means for selectively actuating the assembly 80 is provided by a limit switch or the like 86 which may be and preferably is mounted on the one of the guide rails 18 in a position so that the switch 86 is engaged by one of the ties 52 being conveyed along the apparatus 10, resulting in the roller member 70 engaging and thereby aligning the ties 52 interjacent the members 68, 70. It will be apparent, of course, that since the ties 52 are uniformly longitudinally spaced along the conveyor 12, the switch 86 may be mounted at virtually any one of a number of appropriate longitudinal positions on the guide rails 18 and satisfactorily function to actuate the assembly 80 in the above described manner.

Uniform spacing between the pairs of rails 54 of each of the track sections assembled on the apparatus 10 of the present invention is achieved by a rail gaging mechanism, best illustrated in FIGURE and generally designated by the numeral 88. The mechanism 88 includes a horizontal laterally extending member 90 supported on the lower ends of a pair of vertically extending members 92 and 94 which may be secured by any suitable means to an overhead supported structure located above the conveyor 12. Mounted on the lower side of the outer ends of the member 90 is a pair of fixed rollers 96 and 98 which are rotatably secured to the member 90 by means of suitable support brackets or the like 100 and 102, respectively. Another pair of fixed rollers 104 and 106 are rotatably secured to the rearward side of the member 90 by means of suitable support brackets or the like 108 and 110, respectively. The rollers 104, 106 are disposed directly above the paths which the rails 54 follow as the track sections are conveyed along the apparatus 10, whereby the rollers 104, 106 function to exert a downwardly directed force upon the rails 54 preparatory to the rails 54 and ties 52 being fastened together.

The rails 54 of each of the track sections are urged outwardly into engagement with the rollers 96, 98 by still another pair of rollers 112 and 114 which are laterally slidably mounted on the lower side of the member 90 by means of a pair of laterally slidable carriage members 116 and 118, respectively. Disposed interjacent the carriage members 116, 118 is a double acting piston and cylinder assembly, generally designated 120, having a pair of opposed piston rod members 122 and 124 respectively secured to the carriage members 116 and 118. Suitable conduit means 126, 128 is connected with the opposite ends of the assembly 120 for communicating an actuating fluid thereto. Upon energization of the assembly 120, the rollers 112 and 114 will be forced laterally outwardly, thereby urging the rails 54 outwardly into engagement with the fixed rollers 96 and 98, with the result that the rails 54 will be uniformly spaced or gaged as they are conveyed along the apparatus 10. If desired, the rollers 96, 98 and 112, 114 may be adjustably mounted with respect to the member 88 so that the apparatus 10 may be used to preconstruct track sections of difierent rail gages.

The rails 54 are adapted to be secured to the plurality of ties 52 of each of the track sections by means of a plurality of spikes 130 and tie plates 132, the latter of which are juxtapositioned between the rails 54 and ties 52 in a matter well-known in the art. As best illustrated in FIGURE 1, a supply of tie plates 132 is disposed adjacent the left side of the conveyor assembly 40, and more particularly, the plates 132 are disposed within a vibratory bin or similar type of workstock dispensing container 134 which, upon energization, is adapted to dispense the plates 132 at a predetermined rate onto an elongated conveyor 136 which extends laterally of the apparatus 10 interjacent the forward end of the conveyor 12 and the assembly 40. The conveyor 136, which may be in the form of an endless conveyor belt or the like, is adapted to driven by means of a suitable drive sheave or the like 138 which may be driven by the aforedescribed motor 48, whereby the tie plates 132 deposited onto the conveyor 136 from the bin 134 will be conveyed laterally toward the conveyor 12. The plates 132 are adapted to be placed on the ties 52 by the two workmen who transfer the ties 52 from the conveyor assembly 40 onto the conveyor belts 14, 16. The rate at which the vibratory bin 134 deposits the tie plates 132 onto the conveyor 136 is preferably adjustable so that the number of plates 132 supplied to the conveyor 12 correspends with the rate at which the belts 14, 16 move the track section along the apparatus 10.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 1, another vibratory bin or similar type dispensing container 140 is provided adjacent the rail gaging mechanism 88, which bin 140' is adapted to contain a supply of rail fastening spikes 130. A laterally extending conveyor 142 is adapted to selectively transport the spikes 130 from the bin 140 to the conveyor 12, the conveyor 142 being driven by means of a suitable electric motor or the like 144. The rate at which the spikes 130 are dispensed from the bin 140 is preferably adjustable to correspond with the movement of the track sections along the conveyor 12. In operation, a workman is located at each side of the conveyor 12 and functions to manually set the spikes 130 within the spike apertures of the tie plates 132, whereby the spikes 130 will initially assume the position of the spikes 130a in FIGURE 2.

The spikes 130 which are initially set into the apertures of the tie plates 132 are adapted to be hammered or similarly forced to the seated position of the spikes 1301) in FIGURE 2 by means of a pair of hammer assemblies 147 and 148 disposed directly above the rails 54 of the track sections as the same are traversed along the conveyor 12. Each of the assemblies 147, 148 comprises two pneumatically actuated hammer mechanisms best illustrated in FIGURE 2 and generally designated by the numeral 149. The pair of hammer mechanisms 149 of each of the assemblies 147, 148 are disposed on the opposite sides of the adjacent rails 54 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 and the mechanisms 149 are longitudinally offset to correspond with the conventional offset position of the apertures in the tie plates 132, and hence with respect to the set-in spikes 130. It will be noted that when tie plates having laterally aligned spike receiving apertures are used, the hammer mechanisms 149 will be likewise laterally aligned, and that if only single apertures and hence single spikes are used in fastening the tie plates 132 to the rails 54, each of the assemblies 147, 148 will utilize only one hammer mechanism 149.

The hammer mechanisms 149 are adapted to be longi- 7 tudinally aligned with the set-in spikes 130 of the track sections, and thereafter be actuated to hammer the spikes 130 to their seated positions. A single actuating button or trigger 150 is provided to actuate both hammer mechanism 149 of each of the assemblies 147, 148 so that both of the mechanisms 149 of said assemblies will be simultaneously energized. The actuating buttons 150 are mounted on the upper ends of a pair of manipulating handles 151 which facilitate manual longitudinal adjustment of the assemblies 147, 148, as will later be described.

In order to eliminate the need for stopping the conveyor 12 each time it is desired to hammer or seat a pair of spikes 130, the assemblies 147, 148 are independently slidably mounted on a suitable support structure mounted above the conveyor 12 so that the hammer mechanisms 149 can be moved longitudinally at the same rate at which the track sections are conveyed along the apparatus 10. More particularly and as best illustrated in FIGURE 2, each of the assemblies 147, 148 is mounted on a suitable overhead support structure 152 having a support beam 154 secured to the lower side thereof. An inverted, generally C-shaped channel or track member 156 is fixedly secured to the lower side of the member 154 and is provided with a trolley or carriage assembly 158 having suitable rollers 160 which are longitudinally slidable within the track member 156. The pair of hammer mechanisms 149 are rigidly secured by any suitable means to the trolley assembly 158 and are thereby longitudinally slidable with respect to the track member 156 along with the assembly 158.

A pair of scissor-like gripping-arms 162 and 164 are pivotably mounted on each of the assemblies 147, 148 and are adapted to releasably engage the top of the adjacent rail 54, with the result that the hammer mechanisms 149 will be moved longitudinally along the conveyor 12 simultaneously with and at the same rate as the track section which is being assembled. A hydraulic or pneumatic energized piston and cylinder assembly 166 is interposed between the upper ends of the gripping-arms 162, 164, which assembly 166 is adapted to be energized to bias the upper ends of the arms 162, 164 apart, resulting in the lower ends thereof gripping the rail 54. Actuating fluid may be supplied to the assembly 166 through a conduit 168, and an actuating button 170 and suitable valve means 172 are provided for selectively energizing the assembly 166.

It will be seen from the above description that each of the assemblies 147, 148 comprising the hammer mechanisms 149 and gripping-arms 162, 164, is adapted to be manually positioned so that the mechanisms 149 are aligned with the set-in spikes 130 of the track sections, at which time the actuating buttons 170 may be pressed to energize the piston and cylinder assemblies 166, resulting in the arms 162, 164 firmly engaging the rails 54, with the further result that the hammer mechanisms 149 will move longitudinally with the track section along the conveyor 12. Thereafter, the actuating buttons 150 may be pressed to effect energization of the hammer mechanism 149, at which time the set-in spikes 130 will be hammered to their respective seated positions to firmly secure the rails 54 to the ties 52.

To facilitate correlating the operation of all of the component parts of the railroad track section preconstructing apparatus 10 of the present invention, a brief description of an exemplary operational cycle thereof will now be given.

Assuming that a plurality of ties 52 are disposed on the tie conveyor assembly 40, that a supply of railroad rails 54 are disposed on the support members 56 and 58, and that the motor 38 is energized, an operational cycle of the apparatus 10 is initiated by two workmen who are located between the conveyor assembly 40 and the forward end of the conveyor 12 successively placing ties 52 upon the conveyor belts 14, 16 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1. As each of the ties 52 is placed upon the conveyor 12, a pair of tie plates 132 are placed on the upper sides thereof in the proper position for having a pair of rails 54 mounted thereon. As each of the ties 52 passes longitudinally along the conveyor 12, the limit switch 86 is actuated, resulting in the piston and cylinder assembly being energized, with the further result that the roller member 70 is successively moved laterally toward the right in FIG- URE 1 to laterally align each of the ties 52 as they pass between the roller members 68, 70. At such time as a predetermined number of ties 52, each having a pair of tie plates 132 mounted thereon, have been placed on the conveyor 12, a pair of rails 54 are conveyed from the support members 56 and 58 and placed upon the longitudinally aligned tie plates 132 which rest upon the upper surfaces of the ties 52. As the entire track section comprising the ties 52 and rails 54 moves toward the rearward end of the conveyor 12, the rails 54 are automatically spaced or gaged as they pass between the plurality of rollers 96, 112 and 98, 114. The rails 54 are also urged downwardly into firmly seated engagement with the tie plates 132 and ties 52 by means of rollers 104, 106 which ride upon the upper surfaces of the rails 54.

As the end of the track section moves longitudinally along the conveyor 12, two workmen, which are located at the opposite sides of the conveyor 12 adjacent the spike conveyor belt 142, initially set a preselected number of spikes in the appropriate apertures of the tie plates 132, as indicated at 130a in FIGURE 2. At such time as the set-in spikes 130 are longitudinally aligned with the hammer assemblies 147, 148, two workmen that are located at the opposite sides of the conveyor 12 adjacent the mechanisms 147, 148, initially press the actuating buttons 170, resulting in energization of the piston and cylinder assemblies 166. As the assemblies 166 are actuated, the gripping-arms 162 and 164 are biased into engagement with the adjacent of the rails 54, whereby the hammer mechanisms 149 move longitudinally of the apparatus 10 along with the track section. After the arms 162, 164 have firmly gripped the rails 54, the actuating buttons 150 are pressed to effect energization of the hammer mechanisms 149, resulting in the spikes 130 being driven into the ties, as seen at 13012 in FlGURE 2. As soon as the spikes 130 have been completely driven, the piston and cylinder assemblies 166 are de-energized to permit the hammer assemblies 147, 148 to be manually moved to the left in FIGURE 2 by manipulating handles 151 and thereafter be aligned with the spikes 130 of the next successive tie 52 of the track section transversing the conveyor 12. This process is repeated until such time as the entire track section has had all of the set-in spikes 130 seated by the hammer mechanisms 149, after which time the track section will be completely assembled and may be conveyed toward the rearward end of the conveyor 12. The preconstructed track section may be thereafter removed from the conveyor 12 by any suitable means such as an overhead crane, conveyor belt or the like.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a novel method and apparatus for preconstructing railroad track sections which minimizes to the extreme the assembly time and number of workmen required to assemble such track sections. It is contemplated that a single track section in the order of 40 feet long may be completely assembled in approximately 5 minutes and that such assembly can be accomplished with only 20% of the workmen normally required a fixedly mounted support structure defining a conveying path,

means for conveying the ties and rails along said path,

guide means movable laterally of said path in response to movement of the rails and ties therealong, and power actuated means for sequentially securing the fastening means to the ties and rails. 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes means for longitudinally spacing the ties along said conveying means.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes at least one longitudinally movable conveying belt and means on said belt for longitudinally spacing the ties along said conveying means.

4. The combinations as set forth in claim 1 which in cludes means for supplying ties to said conveying means.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes means for supplying rails to said conveying means.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes means for laterally aligning the ties along said conveying means.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for laterally aligning the ties comprises roller means disposed adjacent the oposite sides of said conveying means.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said roller means is laterally movable with respect to said conveying means for biasing said ties laterally thereof.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes means for uniformly spacing the rails on said conveying means.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said spacing means includes gaging means comprising roller means disposed on the opposite sides of said rails. 11. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said roller means is laterally movable with respect to conveying means.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes means for supplying the fastening means to a predetermined position along said path.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for supplying the fastening means comprises conveyor belt means and means for supplying the fastening means to said conveyor belt means, said conveyor belt means being adapted to move said fastening means to a position adjacent said means for securing the fastening means to the ties and rails.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for securing the fastening means includes hammer means longitudinally movable along said conveying means.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein said hammer means is longitudinally movable along said conveying means in response to movement of a track section traversing conveying means.

16. The combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein said hammer means includes gripping means for releasably securing said hamer means to a track section traversing said conveying means.

17. The combination as set forth in claim 16 wherein said gripping means comprises a pair of gripping-arms releasably engageable with one of the rails of the track section and means for biasing said arms to and from a position engaging the said rail.

18. An apparatus for preconstructing railroad track ections comprising,

means for conveying a plurality of longitudinally spaced ties and a pair of laterally spaced rails along a predetermined path,

conveying means for supplying ties and rails from a storage position to a position substantially adjacent said first conveying means,

spacing means operatively associated with said first mentioned conveying means for maintaining a predetermined longitudinally spaced relationship between the ties,

laterally movable adjacent said path for laterally aligning the ties,

means rotata-bly engageable with the rails for uniformly laterally spacing said rails along said first mentioned conveying means,

means for supplying rail fastening means to a predetermined position along said path,

hammer means and support means for supporting said hammer means for longitudinal movement along said first mentioned convey-ing means,

gripping means for releasably securing said support means to track sections traversing said first mentioned conveying means, and

means for selectively actuating said hammer means to effect securing the ties and rails together with said fastening means.

19. In an apparatus for preconstructing railroad track sections comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced ties, a pair of laterally spaced rails, and fastening means for fixedly securing the rails and ties in a preselected orientation,

conveyor means for transferring the rails and ties along a preselected path,

over-hgad support means substantially aligned with said hammer means for securing said fastening means to said rails and said ties,

means supporting said hammer means for movement longitudinally of said path, and

means selectively engageable with a track section on said conveyor means for moving said last mentioned means longitudinally of said path simultaneously with and at the same rate as a track section moves along said conveyor means.

20. In the method of preconstructing railroad track sections comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced ties, a pair of laterally spaced rails and fastening means for securing the rails and ties, the steps which include,

conveying the ties and rails along a fixedly oriented predetermined path,

conveying the ties to a position adjacent the path,

spacing the ties longitudinally along the path,

moving guide means laterally toward and away from the ties in response to lateral misalignment thereof,

conveying the ties and rails past a longitudinally movable hammer means, and

sequentially securing the fastening means to the ties and rails with the hammer means.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20 which includes the steps of conveying the rails to a position adjacent said predetermined path and thereafter moving the rails to a plosition extending longitudinally of said predetermined pat 22. The method as set forth in claim 20 which includes the step of laterally aligning the ties with respect to said predetermined path.

23. The method as set forth in claim 20 which includes the step of spacing the rails a predetermined distance apart along said predetermined path.

24. The method as set forth in claim 20 which includes the step of conveying the fastening means to a position adjacent said predetermined path.

25. The method as set forth in claim 20 which includes moving hammer means longitudinally of said predetermined path.

26. The method as set forth in claim 25 which includes the step of moving said hammer means longitudinally of said predetermined path in response to movement of the ties and rails along said path.

27. The method as set forth in claim 25 wherein said hammer means includes gripping means and which includen the step of selectivelg =1 6iasing said gripping means 3,257,962 6/ 1966 Doir ley et a1. 104-17 into engagement with one of the rails. 3,330,219 7/1967 Plasser et a1 104-2 References Cit d ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 RICHARD A. BERTSCH, Assistant Examiner.

400,950 4/1889 Roberts 104-3 US. Cl. X.R.

989,931 4/1911 Smith et a1. 104-3 104-1 

